Smitha Chowdary Kankanala

About Smitha Chowdary Kankanala

Healthcare leadership is tested in uncomfortable moments. I’ve had enough of those to know that clinical skill alone is never enough.I am the CEO of Mitra Fertility & Beyond, where I lead strategy, clinical operations, quality, and growth for a fertility and women’s health platform grounded in ethical care, strong clinical outcomes, and long-term patient trust. I am also the Founder of Balenso Ortho, a specialist orthopedic clinic built around thoughtful care design, clinical excellence, and a patient experience that respects time, pain, and context.Over the last 15+ years, I’ve worked across clinical operations, patient safety, governance, communication, and strategic growth in both large tertiary hospitals and entrepreneurial healthcare settings. I’ve led service line transformations, launched advanced clinical programs, strengthened governance frameworks, and scaled revenue — without trading off dignity or integrity.Across all these environments, one pattern became impossible to ignore: escalations rarely begin with negligence. They begin with communication breakdown — a misjudged tone, softened urgency, unvoiced concern, or hierarchy that discourages speaking up. That recognition led me to found the Centre for Healthcare Communication Practice, where I work to professionalise communication as a core competence in modern healthcare. My focus is on trust, escalation, hierarchy dynamics, and the cultural patterns that quietly shape patient experience.Alongside this, I serve as an independent POSH consultant, partnering with growing organisations to build compliant, safe, and accountable workplaces. For me, this work goes beyond policy — it addresses culture, power, boundaries, and the everyday decisions that define trust.I am also the creator of STEADY, a leadership container for women navigating ambition and complexity — grounded in clarity, accountability, and self-trust. I volunteer as a Lean In Circle Leader, facilitating structured spaces where women support one another in professional growth and leadership development.My training includes Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, the Advanced Healthcare Management Program at ISB, a Management Consulting mentorship through Growth School, and Strategic Brand Management & Communication at MICA. I mentor healthtech startups through ISB’s I-HEAL accelerator — helping innovation translate into care that works in the real world.If you’re building or fixing something in healthcare where ethics, clarity, and accountability matter, we’ll likely have something meaningful to talk about.

Experience

1. Startup Mentor

   Isb I-Venture

   Mar 2024 — Present

   As part of I-Venture @ ISB, I\'ll be guiding startups with tested prototypes through their journey of product engineering, clinical validation, mentorship, regulatory advisory, market access, fundraising, and more. Participated in the evaluation round of startup pitches, selecting promising ventures for the accelerator. I will be mentoring two healthcare startups selected for the program, providing tailored support and guidance for their growth and success. Additionally, I\'ll be delivering masterclasses as part of the business module, sharing insights and expertise with founders to help them navigate the complexities of scaling their innovative solutions in the healthcare industry. Excited to collaborate with passionate entrepreneurs and industry experts to drive impactful change and make healthcare accessible and affordable for all in India.

Education

• Queen Margaret University

  Master's degree, Diabetes

• Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

  Emerging Leaders Programme

• Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupathi

  Bachelor's degree, Physical Therapy/Therapist

• Indian School of Business

  Business Storytelling and Executive Presence

• MICA | The School of Ideas

  Advanced Certificate Program in Strategic Brand Management & Communication, Business/Corporate Communications

• Indian School of Business

  Advanced Management Program in Healthcare, Health/Health Care Administration/Management

• UCL

  Diploma of Education, Physical Therapy/Therapist

• University of Cambridge

  CELTA, Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor